(PHOENIX, AZ, USA)--On August 5, 2004, Atlas Sound hosted a Seminar 
for DMX's western regional sales personnel. The Web Ex based seminar 
was taught by Dr. Chanaud, a leading authority on sound masking.

Dr. Chanaud explained to the DMX sales team that sound masking has 
major potential, in terms of sales possibilities. "Although many 
companies need sound masking solutions, they're unaware that a 
solution exists," stated Dr. Chanaud. "It is simply a matter of 
letting companies know the technology exists".

Dr. Chanaud then explained that sound masking is the use of 
(electronically generated) unobtrusive sound, to mask undesired 
sound. (the concept goes all the way back to the ancient Romans 
using fountains for sound masking). Sound masking provides privacy 
when and where needed. For instance, recent legislation requires 
that doctors assure that patients have sufficient privacy i.e., that 
a patient's discussion with the doctor cannot be overheard by those 
near the office. This is a case where a local sound masking system 
could be installed, just outside the doctor's office, to prevent 
those near the office from hearing conversations inside the office. 
Many pharmacies use localized sound masking for the same purpose. A 
pastor's/counselor's office or an office manager's office would be 
other places that localized sound masking could be employed. 

Sound masking can also be used for an entire office. Studies show 
that a notable work performance loss occurs due to employees being 
distracted by conversations taking place two to four (or more) 
cubicles away. In other office situations, employees find the 
numerous conversations going on around them make it difficult to 
them to concentrate which increases their stress level. Sound 
masking has been effectively used in call centers to solve this 
problem.

In an office situation, speakers for the sound masking system can be 
installed above the ceiling tile. And, with proper equalization, 
these same speakers can also be used for paging. Atlas Sound offers 
a number of sound masking products that suit all of these needs from 
the general purpose GPN1200B, which offers a choice of pink or white 
noise output, to the MG2500 and MG 3001 which offer digital signal 
processing based sound masking.